Flying high with Fox Valley rocket club
Mark Bundick of Woodstock has a head for business and a heart for rocket science.
He is not alone. Many rocket enthusiasts work various careers during the week, while on the weekends, they are out in a field on a makeshift launch pad with their model rockets.
"I'm a finance guy with an MBA from the University of Chicago," Bundick explained, "but I am still a rocket nut at heart."
Two years ago, Bundick launched the Fox Valley Rocketeers for Lake and McHenry county residents who want to fly rockets. Whether they are interested in crafting rockets that replicate every detail of a NASA creation, or flying their own high-powered designs, they will find like-minded friends in the FVR.
It turns out that this group is rather extraordinary in the rocketry world.
Bundick, the acting president of FVR, is also president of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). For 50 years, the NAR has set the standard for serious rocket flying and competition. It is the governing organization for model rocketry in the United States. FVR member Bob Kaplow is famous for his design of "Kaplow clips."
"There are only two people who have a rocketry term named after them, and Bob (Kaplow) is one of them," said Ed Chess, a McHenry resident and FVR member.
"This is a remarkable kind of gathering," Chess added. "Some folks in the club have never gotten away from (rocketry). They're remarkable people."
Bundick's father worked for NASA, and he caught the rocket bug at age 10. But it wasn't until he was in sixth grade and had some money in his pocket from mowing lawns that he got serious about rockets. He's been flying them ever since.
Chess also launched rockets while he was in school but stopped when he entered college. He was reintroduced to the hobby when his son was in scouts, and he decided to join the NAR.
"The competition isn't as important to me as seeing if I can design a rocket that works right," Chess said. Chess recently completed the NAR Level I High Power Certification, and is working on Level 2.
"As I get older and have more money, I buy bigger engines," Chess said with a laugh. Bundick decided to form FVR after he moved to McHenry County from DuPage County and discovered the need for a local club. He contacted NAR members who live in McHenry and Lake counties and invited them to an organizational meeting.
Two years later, close to 30 people are on FVR's e-mail list, and 10 to 15 people usually attend the launches held twice a month from April through November.
The last launch of the year was held Nov. 11. The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 in the McHenry Public Library.
Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month in either Woodstock or McHenry. On odd-numbered calendar days, the meeting is held in the McHenry library, and on even-numbered calendar days, it is held in Woodstock's library. All of FVR's events are listed on the Web site at www.foxvalleyrocketeers.org. Currently, there are no dues to join the club.
Meetings start with a "show and share," Bundick explained. Members show off the rockets they are working on, and share all kinds of rocketry news. During launch months, the group discusses launch statistics to see what worked and what could be done better.
The club also plans winter activities and outreach events. FVR members speak to scouts and other youngsters about rocketry to introduce them to the hobby.
There are many different aspects of model rocketry that can capture one's attention. Some are involved in the engineering aspect of launching rockets, while others enjoy crafting the model. Bundick knows rocketeers who have flown rockets made out of food containers, or paper plates. This not only takes imagination, but requires rocketry expertise.
"Rockets can be very complicated or very simple," Bundick said. "The people are bright and inquisitive and I have friends from one end of the country to the other and a couple overseas. It's been a great experience for me."
People who would like to launch rockets but have no recent experience in the hobby can buy starter sets from hobby or toy stores. Bundick also recommends beginners attend the FVR meetings and talk to members about getting started.
"We are fortunate to have a lot of experience in our group," Bundick said.
For information, contact Bundick at (815) 337-9068 or mbundick@earthlink.net.
If you go
What: Fox Valley Rocketeers, a club for model rocket enthusiasts
When: Meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the first Monday of the month
Where: Woodstock or McHenry libraries; the next meeting will be Monday at McHenry, 809 N. Front St.
Info: www.foxvalleyrocketeers.org or (815) 337-9068